Fortunately, we were able to get through most of the 4th of July Festivities before tragedy struck on Highway 156 near Concord in the form of a fatality involving a motorcyclist. Stark reality hit us all when you can go from light-hearted celebration to a life and death situation virtually in seconds. Our thoughts and prayers for the family of Steven W. Adams, 60, of Monticello and prayers of healing for his passenger Deborah A. Bloch, 50, also of Monticello. Special appreciation to the members of the Posey Township Volunteer Fire Department, the Switzerland County Sheriff’s Office and the Switzerland County Emergency Medical staff who put in a long, long day starting with the Parade and Festivities (9 a.m.) and the horrid accident outside town. We are very blessed to have such dedicated members of our community as well as our Public Safety professionals.
It was good to see such a crowd filling the streets of Patriot for the 4th of July Parade. Jeff Brackett, new owner of Norm Peters’ place, introduced me to his wife Traci and son Michael. Anita and Mike Danner brought new puppy Katie to share in our festivities. Leona and Richard Adams made the trip also. As always, Paul Schmitt, Troy Stafford and Donnie Boydston from the Vevay American Legion were all spit and polish for the Honored Guard and during the Memorial Park flag ceremony. To me, their participation is the icing on the cake. This year they were joined by American Legion 9th District Commander Roger Hilligoss, who assisted Mike Jones at the Memorial Park as did several members of the community that helped with the flag ceremony. I obviously cannot begin to list everyone that attended but my gratitude is extended to each and every one of you.
I managed to situate myself right next to my friend Carol Ann Armstrong at the alley alongside the Patriot Baptist Church for the actual passing of the Parade. Right upfront like that, we received our fair share of candy but leave it to Carol Ann to start giving hers away to the backlog of traffic following the parade into town. Ironically, I was contacted by a friend of mine Pat Packer from Cincinnati later that afternoon who told me that he and several of his friends were caught up in the backlog. When I forwarded the photo to him of Carol Ann that I had taken handing out some of her goodies, he responded by identifying himself, his wife and his motorcycle. Small world!
If you attended Patriot’s 4th of July Festivities and enjoyed yourself or if you were somehow disappointed, please feel free to share your experience: Kay Cook (812) 594-2281 or Patriotnews1995@gmal.com . Your input is always welcome. We are the only incorporated town in the United States with the name of Patriot so our parade needs to be a step above.
Both versions of the Patriot 4th of July Parade t-shirts are still available for purchase at the Patriot Town Hall. There are red, V-necked as well as white, conventional styles. All are $10 each. Neither bares a date.
In the “Lessons Learned” category, I am re-learning that stuff is merely stuff and not the whole of my existence. When my little house survived a fire four years ago, everything I owned was removed from my home – and my control – and placed into the control and possession of complete strangers. Everything, including my underwear, all of my clothes, Hummels, carnival and Depression glass, virtually everything. Since then, I have tossed, donated, shared and sold so many items and yet I find that I no longer has the emotional attachment to things that I had most of my life. My priorities are so much simpler and my needs so less complicated. I was the person, mind you, that saved my 3rd grade A- English essay, all nine years of my 4-H ribbons and trophies and even my green plaid wool suit that won me Reserve Champion at the Marion County 4-H Fair in 1967! (The same suit that I outgrew before I even finished it!)
This will be the second year for the Red HOT Hatters to attend the “Beef N Boards Dinner Theater” and this time to see the musical production of West Side Story on Wednesday, September 13th for the 1 p.m. matinee. The play will cost a total of $34 each and includes the buffet before as well as the production. Taxes and gratuities included. This will be an all day affair as the doors open at 11 a.m., the buffet runs from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; with the production beginning at 1 p.m. There will be carpooling again this year and we will probably leave Vevay around 8:45 a.m. Everyone is invited! This event is open to the public! Husbands, boyfriends, etc. included! Call Kay Cook at (812) 594-2281 for any additional information.
You may contact me several ways: by leaving a note of message inside the cat mailbox in front of 1995 Front Street in Patriot, OR by calling my home at (812) 594-2281; or dropping me a note at P.O. Box #01, Patriot, Indiana, 47038. In addition, contact KAY E COOK on Facebook or online at PatriotNews1995@gmail.com. If you have anything for me to include in this article, please send it to me. Information can be received any day of the week but normally my deadline is Sunday at noon for that week’s issue of the paper. Any news received later will appear in the following week’s article. If you need something in on a particular date be sure and give it to me early. Thank you for sending me what you do every week – I couldn’t do this without you!